Nov 21, 2024

2024-2025 Undergraduate Catalog

Special Education, B.S.

Requirements for Program

The Special Education teacher preparation program supports the UK educator preparation unit’s theme of Research and Reflection for Learning and Leading. Special education teachers are prepared to assess, plan, and teach based on what they learn from their students and to conduct continuous self-reflection in order to improve their teaching. The standards and competencies on which the Special Education program is based are those prescribed by The Council for Exceptional Children and The Kentucky Teacher Performance Standards. The B.S. in Education program in Special Education requires completion of: (1) the UK Core requirements; (2) specified course work in Related Studies and Professional Education; and (3) specified course work in the Learning/Behavior Disorders (LBD) and Moderate to Severe Disabilities (MSD) areas of specialization. Students graduating from the certification program obtain two Kentucky teacher certificates in Moderate to Severe Disabilities (grades P-12) and in Learning/Behavior Disorders (grades P-12). It is possible to complete this certificate program in four years.

Continuous Assessment

All students in the Special Education program are expected to meet the standards and rules for Admission, Retention, and Completion from Teacher Education Programs as set forth in the section “Admission, Retention, and Completion from Teacher Education Programs”.
Assessment at the Point of Entry to the Special Education Program. The admission process provides the first point for formal assessment of the competencies outlined in the Initial Certification Program Folio for the program. Students who apply for admission must: (a) meet the requirement for admission to the Teacher Education Program; (b) have successfully completed a special education survey course (EDS 375 ) and have completed or be enrolled in initial practicum course work (EDS 301 , EDS 500 , EDS 526 , EDS 530 ; and (c) be able to articulate their philosophy of teaching and document their experiences with persons with disabilities in an initial portfolio and an entrance interview.
dmitted to the program, they meet with an advisor to plan the remainder of the program. Prior to the student teaching semester, the student must demonstrate their progress toward meeting program competencies in the courses completed.
Completion Assessment. At the completion assessment, students must document that they have met all program competencies through a final review of their portfolio.

Statement on Student Teaching

Special Education teacher certification (in Learning Behavior Disorders and Moderate to Severe Disabilities) requires the successful completion of student teaching in multiple public school placements for students across a variety of grade levels and ability levels (i.e., LBD and MSD). Students completing Special Education teacher preparation will register for:

EDS 550 - STUDENT TEACHING: SPECIAL EDUCATION Credit(s): 12

UK Core Requirements

See the UK Core section of this Catalog for the complete UK Core requirements. The courses listed below are (a) recommended by the college, or (b) required courses that also fulfill UK Core areas. Students should work closely with their advisor to complete the UK Core requirements.

IV. Intellectual Inquiry in the Natural, Physical, and Mathematical Sciences

Choose one course from approved list Credit(s): 3

V. Composition and Communication I

CIS 110 - COMPOSITION AND COMMUNICATION I Credit(s): 3
OR
WRD 110 - COMPOSITION AND COMMUNICATION I Credit(s): 3

VI. Composition and Communication II

CIS 111 - COMPOSITION & COMMUNICATION II Credit(s): 3
OR
WRD 111 - COMPOSITION AND COMMUNICATION II Credit(s): 3

VII. Quantitative Foundations

MA 111 - INTRODUCTION TO CONTEMPORARY MATHEMATICS Credit(s): 3 - 4 (Variable)

VIII. Statistical Inferential Reasoning

STA 210 - MAKING SENSE OF UNCERTAINTY: AN INTRODUCTION TO STATISTICAL REASONING Credit(s): 3

IX. Community, Culture and Citizenship in the USA

Choose one course from approved list Credit(s): 3

X. Global Dynamics

Choose one course from approved list Credit(s): 3

UK Core hours: 31-32

Graduation Composition and Communication Requirement (GCCR)

EDS 529 - EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMMING FOR STUDENTS WITH MILD TO MODERATE DISABILITIES Credit(s): 3

Graduation Composition and Communication Requirement (GCCR) hours: 3

Premajor Requirements

NOTE: Students must successfully complete EDS 375 and be enrolled in (or have successfully completed) EDS 301 , EDS 500 , EDS 526 , EDS 530 when applying for admission to the Teacher Education Program in Special Education.

EDS 301 - INITIAL PRACTICUM IN SPECIAL EDUCATION Credit(s): 1 - 3 (Variable)
EDS 375 - INTRODUCTION TO EDUCATION OF EXCEPTIONAL CHILDREN Credit(s): 3
EDS 500 - COMMUNICATION ASSESSMENT AND INTERVENTION STRATEGIES FOR STUDENTS WITH COMPLEX COMMUNICATION NEEDS Credit(s): 3
EDS 505 - PREPARING TO TEACH DIVERSE LEARNERS Credit(s): 3
EDS 513 - LEGAL ISSUES IN SPECIAL EDUCATION Credit(s): 3
EDS 516 - CREATING SUPPORTIVE & RESPECTFUL LEARNING ENVIRONMENTS Credit(s): 3
EDS 517 - ASSISTIVE TECHNOLOGY IN SPECIAL EDUCATION Credit(s): 3
EDS 526 - INTRODUCTION TO SPECIAL EDUCATION ASSESSMENT AND PROGRAM PLANNING Credit(s): 3
EDS 530 - MODERATE AND SEVERE DISABILITIES Credit(s): 3
EDS 547 - COLLABORATION AND INCLUSION IN SCHOOL AND COMMUNITY SETTINGS Credit(s): 3
EDS 570 - CHARACTERISTICS OF LEARNING AND BEHAVIORAL DISABILITIES Credit(s): 3
MA 201 - MATHEMATICS FOR ELEMENTARY TEACHERS Credit(s): 3
EES 160 - GEOLOGY FOR TEACHERS Credit(s): 3
OR
PHY 160 - PHYSICS AND ASTRONOMY FOR TEACHERS Credit(s): 3

Premajor Requirement hours: 37-39

Additional Courses

The Special Education major requires PSY 100 , MA 111 , and STA 210 . These courses may be used to satisfy UK Core requirements. In addition, it is strongly recommended that students take EPE 301 .

Major Core Requirements

EDS 548 - CURRICULUM DESIGN FOR STUDENTS WITH MODERATE AND SEVERE DISABILITIES Credit(s): 3
EDS 549 - METHODS FOR STUDENTS WITH MODERATE AND SEVERE DISABILITIES Credit(s): 3
EDS 518 - BEHAVIOR MANAGEMENT IN APPLIED SETTINGS Credit(s): 3
EDS 401 - INTERMEDIATE PRACTICUM IN SPECIAL EDUCATION Credit(s): 3
EDC 326 - TEACHING SOCIAL STUDIES IN THE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL Credit(s): 3
SEM 328 - TEACHING SCIENCE IN THE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL Credit(s): 3
EDS 528 - READING AND LANGUAGE ARTS ASSESSMENT AND METHODS FOR STUDENTS WITH MILD TO MODERATE DISABILITIES Credit(s): 3
EDS 529 - EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMMING FOR STUDENTS WITH MILD TO MODERATE DISABILITIES Credit(s): 3 *
EDS 402 - ADVANCED PRACTICUM IN SPECIAL EDUCATION Credit(s): 3
SEM 337 - TEACHING MATHEMATICS IN ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS Credit(s): 3 **
EDS 550 - STUDENT TEACHING: SPECIAL EDUCATION Credit(s): 12
EDC 339 - DESIGNING A READING AND LANGUAGE ARTS PROGRAM FOR THE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL Credit(s): 3
*Completes the Graduation Composition and Communication Requirement (GCCR).
**To meet the prerequisite for SEM 337 , Teaching Mathematics in Elementary Schools, Special Education majors must earn a B or better in MA 201 or they must earn a C or better in MA 201 and a D or better in MA 202 .